A Northern Ireland football agent will run this year’s Belfast Marathon in memory of his late father while raising money for Kidney Research UK.
Lee Mudd, a well known representative with global sports agency CAA Sports, lost his father David in 2002, the result of a serious kidney condition.
David’s sudden death at the age of 47 was a massive blow to Lee who, at the time, was a 21-year-old footballer chasing a professional career in France.
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He later admitted: “My dad was my mentor when it came to football so when he died, my world fell apart”.
As a result, Lee’s football journey took him down a different route and 20 years later he is determined to remember his father by raising much needed funds for Kidney Research UK.
“It will be the 20th anniversary of my dad’s passing in July and I wanted to do something in his memory while also raising money for a vital cause,” said Lee.
“My dad was born with damaged kidneys at a time when there was little or no research and he went on to lose a kidney at the age 28.
“The one he was left with never really functioned properly and it caused multiple complications which sadly led to his sudden passing at the age of 47.
“My father was well known in youth football here and he coached at the Milk Cup, so he is a big reason why I do what I do now as an agent trying to help young players.
“He worked all his life, he was a fighter and he was my hero.”
Remarkably, the Belfast Marathon on May 1 will be the first marathon Lee has undertaken.
The Belfast-based agent, who represents a stable of local players including Northern Ireland internationals Jordan Thompson, Trai Hume and Liam Donnelly, said: “It will be a massive challenge but I’ve been putting in a lot of miles.
I’m hoping the fitness I've built up from my training, the adrenaline and the crowd help get me around.”
Lee has started raising money through a JustGiving page and if you would like to help him in his marathon effort to support Kidney Research UK, please click HERE
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